Combination screen and storm window



June 28, 1955 J. B. COVl 2,711,788

COMBINATION SCREEN AND STORM WINDOW Filed Aug. 12, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fi 42 3 I 36 a 22 a vmw Q E Q) X John B- Cow' INVENTOR.

June 28, 1955 J. B. COVl 2,711,788

COMBINATION SCREEN AND STORM WINDOW Filed Aug. 12, 1952 ,2 Sheets-Sheet 2 John B; Cow

JNVENTOR.

COMBBNATKQN SCREEN AND STGRM WINDOW John B. Covi, Warren Township, Somerset County, N. J.

Application August 12, 1952, Serial No. 303,955

Claims. (Cl. loll-) The present invention relates to closure means for a window opening or an equivalent space in a room or elsewhere and has more particular reference to a summerwinter combination structure which embodies both a screen and a storm window, said structure being properly designed and therefore adapted to be permanently installed in a window opening outwardly of the usual window construction, whereby to provide selectively usable screen and storm window facilities according to varying weather and temperature requirements.

It is not broadly new in this art to provide a two-way or combination screen and storm window having the functional and structural characteristics above set forth. More specifically, it is admittedly old to provide a frame which is adapted to be permanently installed in a window opening, said frame having upper and lower casings or housings or rollers, the rollers being each mounted for rotation in their respective housings, and there being a flexible material covering for the opening means in the frame having its respective ends operatively attached to the proper rollers, the covering embodying one half portion which functions as a screen and the other half portion which functions as a transparent weatherproof or so-called storm Window. Such a construction is revealed in Patent No. 2,474,747, issued June 28, 1949.

One object of the instant invention is to structurally, functionally and otherwise improve upon the abovementioned patent and any others in the same general field of endeavor. To this end, it will be clear that a continuous sheet material covering with screen and storm window components interferes with window washing, painting and other household jobs. In the instant adaptation, the adjacent ends of the screen and storm window portions are separably connected with each other, preferably by way of a zipper fastening, making it convenient and practical to separate the screen from the storm window and to individually roll each on its roller so that it will be out of the way to completely uncover the regular window sashes for washing, painting, and other similar tasks.

A further object of the invention has to do with separable screen and window complements and practical operating means therefor comprising one long socket chain for operating the upper roller and screen, and a shorter socket chain for operating the lower roller and storm. window, these being accessibly mounted in the frame for accessible and convenient control.

A further object has to do with the particular ways and means whereby the attachable ends of the sheet material covering means may be successfully attached to their respective supporting and winding rollers.

Briefly summarized, the preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized generally by a frame adapted to be installed in opening means in a window construction, said frame embodying a pair of duplicate coplanar spaced parallel longitudinal frame members connected together at upper and lower ends by way of complemental trans- 7 2,711,788 Patented June 28, 1955 verse frame members, the latter each in the form of a canopy-like roller housing, said longitudinal frame members each being an angle iron, one flange of which is to be mounted within and attached to a part of the window frame, the other flange serving as an assembling and guide track, a roller mounted for rotation in each housing, a covering of flexible sheet material conformable with and spanning the opening which is bordered by said frame, the respective ends of said material being wound on the respective rollers, the longitudinal edges of said sheet material overlapping and slidably contacting the inward surfaces of said guide tracks, and flexible weather strips overlapping and fastened to said longitudinal edges of said guide tracks, and having free edge portions overlapping and slidably contacting the outer surfaces of the cooperating longitudinal edges of said sheet material covering.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying sheets of illustrative drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the complete summer-winter combination screen and storm window structure showing the manner in which it is employed and observing the structural details from the inside of the room;

Figure 2 is a horizontal section on an enlarged scale taken on the plane of the line 2-2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a central vertical section taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional and elevational View taken on the vertical line 44 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is a similar view in section and elevation on an enlarged scale taken on the vertical line 5-5 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a bracket for supporting one end of one roller; and,

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a chain guide fixture.

The frame is generally rectangular and is, of course, constructed to fit into a window opening in the part 8 of the regular or conventional window frame construction 10. The latter is usually of a double-hung type and includes upper and lower sliding sashes 12 and 14, as best shown in Figure 3.

T he stated frame is characterized by a pair of duplicate coplanar spaced parallel vertical or longitudinal side members 16 and 18. These are in the form of angle irons and the flange 20 of each fits into the window opening and is secured by suitable headed fasteners 22. The inturned flanges 2424 have their upper and lower ends bent and clenched as at 26 (see Figure 3) and attached to coacting flanges on hollow canopy-like roller housings, the upper one of which is denoted by the numeral 28 and the lower one by the numeral 30. The upper roller is denoted by the numeral 32 and the lower one by the numeral 34 in Figure 3 and these are mounted removably for rotation in their respective housings. The brackets for accomplishing this are the same in construction and the one at the right in Figure l is denoted by the numeral 36 and the diagonal and the lower one is identical and denoted by the numeral 38. These two brackets have simple bearing holes therein (not detailed) to accommodate the journals 4)4l0, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. The other two diagonally opposite brackets are denoted by the numetals 42-42 and each is of the construction shown in Figure 6 to accommodate its respective journal 44-44. That is to say, the bracket 42 has a bearing notch 46 and a removable latch pin 48 closing the entrance end of the notch. This alternate arrangement of diagonally opposite brackets provides for proper journaling and removable supporting of the respective upper and lower rollers.

Taking up now the flexible covering material, this may be treated as a length of suitable material such as commercial plastics. The upper portion is perforated and functions as a screen and this is denoted by the numeral 50. The lower portion 52 is imperforate and transparent and functions as a storm window. The adjacent edge portions of these upper and lower portions are separably joined preferably by way of zipper fastening means 54, as seen in Figure 1. This arrangement makes it possible to separate the screen from the window and to individually roll each on its particular roller to permit access to be had to the sashes 12 and 14. With reference now to Figure 4, it will be seen that there is a single sprocket wheel 56 mounted on the left-hand end of the roller 32. This has a keeper opening 58 therein which is in registry with a lengthwise groove 69 formed in the roller. The groove constitutes a keyway for a strip member 62 which has one end portion anchored in the opening 58, has its body portion fitting into the keyway, and has its opposite end formed with a keeper hole to engage over a tonguelike detent 64 on a clip 66 fastened on the righthand end of the roller. These features, the keyway and key and retaining means for the key, serve as satisfactory means for attaching one end of the screen 56 to the roller.

A different arrangement is provided for attaching the storm window to its roller, as best shown in Figure 5. Here, the roller 34 has its end portions reduced in crosssection and forming cylindrical extensions 6868 which may be called spools. These spools serve to permit attaching tough fabric or lightweight metal tapes 70-70 thereto. These tapes may be suitably attached to the adjacent lower edge portion of the storm window 52 and they are of lengths so that when they are completely coiled or wound up on the spool-like extension 68 they are then flush with the principal surfaces of the roller 36. It has been found that this is a highly satisfactory manner of attaching a flexible plastic storm window to a roller for winding on the roller. In connection with this same figure, it will be observed that the roller 36 is provided at one end only with a sprocket wheel and this is denoted by the numeral 72.

Reverting to the sprocket wheel 56, it will be seen that one end of a long endless sprocket chain 74 is trained over this sprocket wheel. The chain ranges along the inner surface of the protecting flange 24 where its lower end is trained over a fixed member as shown in Figure 5, which may be called a tracking and guide shoe 76. This one chain and one sprocket wheel and shoe arrangement makes it possible to provide satisfactory remote control means for the upper roller for winding the screen thereon, especially when the screen is separated from the storm window. To assist, a guide fixture 78 is provided and this is detailed in Figure 7 and it comprises a forked member which straddles one of the runs of the endless chain.

The remaining shorter endless sprocket chain is denoted by the numeral 80 and this has its lower end trained over the sprocket wheel 72 and has its upper end trained over a similar sprocket 82 which is mounted for idling on an attaching fixture 84 (see Figure 1) whereby to provide an appropriate attaching and idling arrangement. Here again, one of the guide fixtures '78 is employed to assist in guiding and tautening the chain 80.

It will be evident that both sprocket chains .are accessible from the inside of the room in which the combination screen and storm window is mounted. It will be evident, too, that with these sprocket chains and their associated wheels it is possible to completely wind the screen on the upper roller and to bring the storm window 52 into play, or to reverse the operation and to wind the storm window on the lower roller and to bring the screen into play. As a matter of fact, it is possible to utilize the construction as shown in Figure 1 with part of the window in place and part of the screen all depending on the requirements of the user. It is of outstanding importance, as before mentioned, that the construction should be such that the respective rollers may be easily applied and removed in respect to the frame. It is desirable that the means, as shown respectively in Figures 4 and 5, be provided for attaching the screen and storm window portions to their respective rollers 32 and 36. It is desirable to have a single sprocket wheel on one end of each roller, as shown and described, and to provide the individual chains which are trained over their respective sprocket wheels but have their opposite ends mounted for idling so that when the zipper fastening means 54 is opened up, the then independent screen and window portions may be readily wound up on their respective rollers, in which positions they are completely out of the way for window washing and other purposes.

With respect to Figure 2 in particular, it will be seen that the marginal edge portions of the screen and window have slidable contact with the inner surfaces of the flanges 24-24. Then on the exterior of each flange a rubber strip of material is mounted and this may be conveniently called a Weatherstrip. It is denoted by the numeral 86 and has one edge portion fastened to the flange and has its opposite edge portion free and overlapping and cooperating with the relatively slidable screen or window in providing a Weatherstrip or seal.

Although the disclosure deals with subject matter which is directed primarily to what is referred to as a combination screen and storm window for use in a permanent window opening, it is understood, of course, that the structure is adapted to use in other constructional manners. That is to say, whereas the drawings show a single combination screen-window, it will be clear that a number of these screen-windows could be placed coplanar and in longitudinal and edge to edge relationship, and thus assembled to form, what may be called a wall or enclosure means for a space. it is visioncd, for example, that the screen-window is susceptible of use by itself, that is singly, or it may also be employed in a collective sense. By this it is meant that two or more combination screen-windows could well be assembled to make up a complete side of a porch, thus giving the porch the desired summer-winter screen and window features. Since this sort of an arrangenzent is a duplication of the basic theme of the invention herein depicted, it is not more specifically disclosed herein. It will be understood, however, that the description and 7 claims are intended to so comprehend the same.

I lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Minor changes in the shape, size and arrangement of details coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. A summer-winter screen and storm window combination comprising at least one frame adapted to be fixedly installed in the window opening of a permanent window construction, used as a part of a porch wall or similarly employed, said frame embodying upper and lower roller housings, a roller mounted for rotation in each housing, and a covering of flexible sheet material having end portions attached and rollable on said rollers, said covering spanning the opening defined by said frame, one half of said covering being perforated and providing a screen and the other half being imperforate and providing a storm window, and a separable fastener means connecting the adjacent ends of said screen and storm window with each other, a first sprocket wheel fixed on one end only of the upper roller, a second sprocket wheel fixed on the opposite end of the lower roller, a chain tautening and guiding shoe fixed on one vertical frame member adjacent a? to the lower end of the member, a first endless sprocket chain having its upper end operatively trained over said first sprocket Wheel and its lower end accessibly trained over said shoe, a third sprocket wheel mounted for idling on the other vertical frame member directly above th: second sprocket wheel, and a second sprocket chain having its lower end portion trained over the second sprocket wheel and its upper end trained over the third sprocket wheel.

2. A screen and storm window combined comprising a prefabricated frame adapted to be readily and thus installed in opening means in a window construction, said frame embodying a pair of duplicate coplanar spaced parallel longitudinal frame members connected together at upper and lower ends by way of coniplemental trans verse frame members, the latter each in the form of a canopy-like roller housing, said longitudinal frame members each being an angle iron, one flange of which is to be telescopically fitted and fixedly mounted within and attached to cooperating parts of the stationary window frame, the other flange of each angle iron serving as an assembling and guide track, a roller mounted for rotation in each housing, a covering of flexible sheet material conformable with and spanning the opening which is bordered by said frame, the respective ends or" said material being wound and rollable on and off of the respective rollers, the longitudinal edges of said sheet material overlapping and slidably contacting the inward surfaces of said guide track flanges, and flexible weatherstrips overlapping and fastened to outwardly facing surfaces of the longitudinal edges of said guide track flanges and having free edge lengthwise portions overlapping and slidably contacting the outer surfaces of the cooperating longitudinal edges of said sheet material covering, one-half of said sheet material covering being perforated to function as a screen and the other half portion imperforate to function as a storm window, the adjacent ends of the screen and storm window portions being separably joined with each other, whereby they may be individually wound up on their respective rollers so that access may be had to the regular window for washing, painting, and so forth.

3. The structure defined in claim 2, wherein individual selectively usable means is provided on said frame for independently rotating each roller after the screen is detached from the storm window.

4. The structure defined in claim 3, wherein each roller rotating means comprises a single sprocket wheel on each roller, 21 sprocket chain for each sprocket, and means 6 whereby the manually actuatable portions of the respective chains are accessibly supported for convenient handling on said frame.

5. A summer-winter screen and storm Window combination comprising at least one frame adapted to be fixedly installed in the window opening of a permanent window construction, used as a part of a porch wall or similarly employed, said frame embodying upper and lower roller housings, a roller mounted for rotation in each housing, and a covering of flexible sheet material having end portions attached and rollable on said rollers, said covering spanning the opening defined by said frame, one-half of said covering being perforated and providing a screen and the other half being imperforate and providing a storm window, and a separable fastener means connecting the adjacent ends of said screen and storm window with each other, a first sprocket wheel fixed on one end only or the upper roller, a chain tautening and guiding shoe fixed on one vertical frame member adjacent to the lower end of said frame member, a first endless sprocket chain having its upper end operatively trained over said first sprocket wheel and its lower end accessibly trained over said shoe, 2. second sprocket wheel fixed on the end of the lower roller opposite to the stated one end only of the upper roller, a third sprocket wheel mounted for idling on the other vertical frame member and in a line directly above the second sprocket wheel, a second endless sprocket chain having its lower end portion trained over the second sprocket wheel and having its upper end trained over the third sprocket wheel, the respective end portions of the roller in the lower housing being reduced in cross-section and providing spool-like extensions, the lower end portion of said covering having relatively narrow ribbon-like tapes, said tapes being wound on said extensions and the major body portion of said covering being wound on the body portion of said roller as well as wound about the convolutions of the tapes on said roller.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 174,535 Johnson Mar. 7, 1876 849,219 Ecker Apr. 2, 1907 1,738,442 Meader Dec. 3, 1929 1,889,226 LeRoy Steffen Nov. 29, 1932 2,404,257 Thomas July 16, 1946 2,474,747 Madriguera June 28, 1949 

